What is your library doing to provide a secure digital environment for library patrons? How is your library protecting the privacy of patrons in this digital world? Patron privacy is of critical importance to libraries, and should be a foundational principle guiding library policy and practice. It is included in the American Library Association’s Code of Ethics and the Library Bill of Rights. As technology changes rapidly, libraries and librarians are working hard to keep up with digital security issues to better protect the privacy of their users. But this is not an easy task.

Come to this free webinar to learn about patron privacy issues in public libraries. This webinar will explore two key areas of patron privacy: public access technology and the collection of patron data. Our guests will share practical tips and advice on how to better protect patron privacy. We will also share recommended resources for continued learning on this topic.

Bill Budington, from the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), will talk about digital security issues that impact patron privacy in public libraries, and will share tools and information from EFF that can be useful for libraries.

Chuck McAndrew, IT Librarian at the Lebanon Public Libraries (NH), will share actions he has taken at this small library to better protect patron privacy and to teach library users (how to better protect their own privacy).

Please note that if you dial in by phone, you may need to provide this additional code: 411226

Recordings

Bill is a long time activist, programmer, and cryptography enthusiast. He works on EFF's Tech Projects team as a security engineer and technologist, currently maintaining HTTPS Everywhere and Panopticlick. He has also contributed to projects such as Let's Encrypt and SecureDrop. Bill can be found talking to crowds of people on soap boxes and stages in far off places, or doing digital security trainings for organizations. He loves hacker spaces and getting together with other techies to tinker, code, share, and build the technological commons. Er spricht auch gern Deutsch!

Chuck McAndrew, IT Librarian, Lebanon Public Libraries

Chuck is a librarian and digital privacy advocate, and works as an IT Librarian at the Lebanon Public Libraries (New Hampshire). He works to promote access to information, privacy, and intellectual freedom within libraries. He has worked as an auto mechanic, a sword maker, and served as a US Marine. He strongly believes in the power of technology to empower individuals and works to make it more accessible to everyone.

Crystal Schimpf

Crystal is a librarian and trainer with a passion for program design and technology in publc libraries. She has worked on training projects with the Colorado State Library, Infopeople, the Urban Libraries Council, and the Public Library Association. In addition to her work at TechSoup, she is the founder of Kixal, where she creates transformative training experiences for staff in libraries and nonprofits.